14–21 August – Afropean polyphony – Anita DAULNE (Congo/Belgium) and Ephraim GOLDIN (Canada/CZ)

AFROPEAN POLYPHONY SUMMER WORKSHOP

with ANITA MAHDIA DAULNE Congo/Belgium (vocal class)

and EPHRAIM GOLDIN Canada/CR (rhythm exercises)

August 14th - 21st 2010, Slavonice

Anita Mahdia Daulne returns to the Czech Republic after her Voicescape-organized workshops in 2007, 2008 and 2009 which were were a great experience to its participants.

SINGING AFRICAN POLYPHONY

In the Lingala language, "Mayaka" means "pearl necklace". Each participants€› voice will become a pearl in a necklace contributing its unique significance to a whole in which the voices intertwine and unite. A play of voices, sounds, hisses, whistling and swinging rhythms will create a bridge connecting the African musical feeling based on everyday life in nature and the urban experience of Europeans. The lecturer who has labeled this kind of search "Afropean music" will offer the participants a possibility to discover their own, perhaps surprising, means of vocal expression and to experience joyful, energetic and emotional music in which everybody is both a soloist and a part of a chorus of many voices. The workshop is open to all who wish, need and have the courage to sing regardless of their experience.

Born in Kongo, Anita Mahdia Daulne is a founding member of the world-renowned vocal ensemble Zap Mama. For many years, she has studied African musical traditions, especially Pygmy, Budu, Zulu and other tribes' singing. She strives to bring the African heritage to the Western world.

More information about Anita Mahdia Daulne can be found in the LECTURERS section.

RHYTHM EXERCISES

As a complementary activity Ephraimem Goldin will offer rhythm exercises. He says about his work:

"Like my drumming, my teaching technique is not formal. I have no training in pedagogy and have no particular methodology except the one which was used on me; rhythms must be absorbed through repetition. African rhythms are polyphonic-different rhythms are played at the same time and overlap to create a rich and complex stew of melodies and counterpoints. It is like a group conversation with everyone talking at once. But the beautiful thing about it is that everyone is heard, every part fits in harmony with the others and there is a perfect balance to the music. The pieces fit together like a puzzle. To learn each piece in the puzzle one only has to repeat it in a cycle until it becomes fastened to the mind and body. Singing the rhythm is perhaps the best way to absorb it. If you can sing it, you can play it! I will be looking to give people the chance to use their voices to create rhythm; not by actually singing but by using certain sounds associated with the drum to make vocal drumming. Then we will transfer our voices to our bodies playing on our chests, stomachs and legs, clapping our hands and stomping our feet: body percussion. Then we will take up actual percussion instruments and breathe new life into the music. It isn't important to able to play drums. All that is required is an open mind, an open heart and a fearlessness in our actions"

More information about lectereur you can find HERE

THE WORKSHOP

The participants are expected to arrive at Slavonice on August 14th. The workshop starts in the morning of August 15th and totals six teaching days. The classes will take place at the local music school located on the Renaissance town square. Every day, the participants will have 5 hours of singing and 2 hours of rhythm exercises, one afternoon can be reserved, if participants decide so, for relaxation with the possibility of trips or swimming. The workshop will be consummated by a public performance in one of the picturesque locations of Slavonice on Friday 20th and concluded by a group breakfast in the morning of Saturday 21st. The lessons will be given in English and interpreted to Czech.

The price of the workshop is 7350 Kč and includes the classes, daily breakfast and accommodation in the clean but simple Secesní dům pensioner (see pictures HERE ) in 2, 3 and 4-bed rooms. The daily breakfast will take the form of a buffet suited as much as possible to the requests of the participants as stated on the registration forms. The price of the accommodation alone is 1400Kč in total or 200Kč per night. Those wishing to stay elsewhere can reserve their accomodation on their own and only pay the workshop+breakfast fee of 5950Kč. There is a number of other hotels and pensioners in Slavonice and also a camping site few miles from the town. More information is available at the town web site www.slavonice-mesto.cz.

Important notice: we can ensure the accomodation in the Secesní dům just for participants who send the application form till 30th May. Later it is available by demand.

Slavonice is an old, small town, one of the few in the Czech Republic to be preserved in its Renaissance appearance.

The registration form for the Slavonice workshop can be downloaded HERE.

The workshop will be held in English and translated to Czech.

VIDEO FROM THE WORKSHOP 2009:

VIDEO FROM THE WORKSHOP 2008: